Baltimore Ravens, agent Todd France working out fresh deal for RB Ray Rice-NFL News
Todd France, the agent of Baltimore Ravens’ running back, Ray Rice, has continued negotiations for a long-term deal for his client as the player is still holding himself out of the team’s workout activities in protest of his demand for an expensive contract.
Ravens applied their franchise tag on Rice but the player has so far refused to sign the $7.7 million tender. He was unable to attract another team that could have possibly signed him off the free agency.
In spite of the management’s assurance of working out a long-term deal for him, Rice has skipped the team’s offseason voluntary workout to press his demand.
He, however, said to have continued working on his fitness through individual workout, and apparently remains upbeat about his fitness level.
The player said:
"Training is something that I never worried about. It's something that you got to want. I actually have the burning to desire to come back, not only for myself, but to come back ready to play. My training.”
Although the player himself has not confirmed who is he working with, a local newspaper report claimed that he has help of former San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles’ running back, Brian Westbrook.
Rice added:
"Nobody ever had to beat me in the head to get up and work out. Anybody who knows about my workout regimen, I've probably been through two before noon. Training has never been my issues but obviously, the team camaraderie, the lockout and all that stuff,
that's the stuff that you kind of miss with the guys. But as far as being ready, I know I'll be ready."
Rice is on the risk of losing more than 75 per cent value of his tender if he does not sign it by June 15 and both parties do not find an amicable solution to his deal matter, by then.
It is likely that Ravens and his agent agree to terms of a fresh contract well before the date, which should be a welcome development for the player.
Ravens, overall, have adopted a cautionary approach on the issue of deal controversy even though the player has gone rebellious over his demand of a long-term hefty deal.
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